115th birth anniversary of Hafeez Jullundhri observed

ISLAMABAD: Famous Urdu poet Abu Al-Asar Hafeez Jullundhri was remembered on the occasion of his 115th birth anniversary on Thursday.

Born on January 14, 1900 in Jullundher Hafeez initially studied in a mosque school and later joined a local school. He received formal education until the seventh grade.

Hafeez Jullundhri had the honour of writing the national anthem of Pakistan composed by Ahmed Ghulamali Chagla also known as Ahmed G Chagla.

After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, Jullundhri migrated to Lahore in the new state of Pakistan.From 1922 to 1929 Jullundhri remained the editor of a few monthly magazines namely, Nonehal, Hazar Dastaan, Teehzeeb-e-Niswan, and Makhzin.

His first collection of poems Nagma-e-Zar was published in 1935. After the World War II, he worked as the director of the Song Publicity Department. During this same time he wrote songs that were much liked by the public.

Hafeez Jullundhri actively participated in Pakistan Movement and used his writings to propagate for the cause of Pakistan. In early 1948, he joined the forces for the freedom of Kashmir and got wounded. Jullundhri wrote the Kashmiri Anthem, “Watan Hamara Azad Kashmir”. He wrote many patriotic songs during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

Jullundhri’s work of poetry, Shahnama-e-Islam, gave him incredible fame which, in the manner of Firdowsi’s Shahnameh, is a record of the glorious history of Islam in verse.

He is unique in Urdu poetry for the enchanting melody of his voice and lilting rhythms of his songs and lyrics. His poetry generally deals with romantic, religious, patriotic and natural themes.

For his literary and patriotic services to Pakistan, Jullundhri was awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz and Pride of Performance by the Government of Pakistan.

Hafeez Jullundhri died in Lahore, on December 21, 1982 at the age of 82 years. Buried in Model Town, Lahore, his remains were later shifted to a tomb built by the Government of Pakistan near the Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore, the site of the Pakistan Resolution.